Nazareth Liquor Store Explosion Injures 15 | WATCH

Fifteen people were injured late Wednesday night after an explosion triggered a fire at a restaurant and adjoining liquor store in Nazareth, emergency services said.

According to Israel Police, the blast occurred shortly before midnight, prompting multiple calls from witnesses who reported an explosion followed by heavy smoke and flames. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene amid initial concerns that people might be trapped inside the building.

Medical teams from Magen David Adom treated the injured at the scene and evacuated them to nearby hospitals, including the Italian Hospital, the English Hospital and Emek Medical Center. Most of the victims were conscious when responders arrived.

Two men were listed in serious condition, including a 25-year-old who suffered significant blast injuries. A 30-year-old man was moderately injured with second-degree burns to approximately 10 percent of his body. The remaining nine victims sustained light injuries, primarily from burns, smoke inhalation and falling debris. Several of the seriously injured reached hospitals independently and were not included in initial casualty counts, contributing to early confusion over the total number of victims.

An MDA paramedic said crews noticed thick black smoke already from a nearby street and encountered flames coming from the structure upon arrival. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and conducted thorough searches of the building and surrounding apartments, ultimately confirming that no one remained trapped.

Early in the response, authorities said the cause of the explosion was unclear. However, following a joint examination by police bomb disposal experts and fire investigators, officials later determined that the incident was the result of a gas leak that caused a powerful pressure explosion. Police emphasized there is no suspicion of a criminal or security-related incident.

Israel Fire and Rescue said an arson and fire investigator will continue to examine the circumstances of the blast, including the condition of gas infrastructure at the site, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident caused significant damage to the business and nearby vehicles, and the area was temporarily cordoned off while emergency operations were completed.